GTA 6 Preorders Reportedly Not Opening on May 18 as Insiders Claim Rockstar May Avoid Sending Review Copies to Press

Grand Theft Auto VI fans may need to keep their digital wallets on standby a little longer, as recent insider comments suggest that the rumored May 18 preorder window is not expected to move forward. The speculation started after an affiliate email connected to Best Buy appeared to suggest that GTA 6 preorders would open on Monday, May 18, creating immediate excitement across the gaming community.

However, during the latest Insider Gaming Weekly podcast, Tom Henderson said the email appeared to be legitimate in the sense that it was sent through Impact, but that does not mean Rockstar Games or Take Two Interactive are preparing to open preorders immediately. Henderson reiterated that the expectation has remained focused on July or August, with August standing out due to Take Two’s next earnings call.

"Yeah, we said this for the longest time, right? I think we've all said that we believe we're not going to get anything tangible until July, August, especially August, when their next earnings call is going to be.
Tom Henderson"

He also explained that while the affiliate email itself was legitimate, the reason behind it remains unclear. It could have been a mistake, an outdated campaign asset, or a plan that may have changed before going public. Best Buy and Impact reportedly have not provided further comment, which is understandable considering the sensitivity surrounding Rockstar’s biggest upcoming release.

"I think one of the important things about this email is that it was legitimate in the sense that it was sent by Impact. Like, it was a legitimate email sent by Impact. I believe that people have reached out to Best Buy and Impact to try and get comment. They're not giving comment, which is perfectly understandable. I wouldn't want to give comment with Take Two breathing down my neck with lawyers or whatever.
Tom Henderson"

The preorder rumor was not the only GTA 6 discussion gaining traction over the weekend. A Brazilian journalist, who has worked with outlets such as Omelete and UOL, claimed that Rockstar Games will not send review copies to journalists or content creators. Instead, the company is reportedly preparing a controlled review event where selected media members would be invited to a secure location to play GTA 6 under supervision.

If accurate, this would mark a major shift from Rockstar’s handling of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, when review codes were sent to selected media outlets before launch. For a game as massive and leak sensitive as GTA 6, a secure review event would not be impossible to imagine, especially after years of leaks, internal security concerns, and intense global attention around every new trailer, screenshot, and retail listing.

YouTuber Nukov made a similar comment during the same Insider Gaming Weekly discussion, although his statement sounded more speculative than fully sourced.

"There will be no previews of GTA 6. There will be no review copies sent out. There will be nothing.
Nukov"

For gaming media, this approach would create a difficult review environment. GTA 6 is expected to be a massive open world release, and reviewing it properly would require meaningful time with the story, side activities, performance, world design, console optimization, and online infrastructure if applicable. A controlled review event could reduce leak risks, but it may also limit how deeply reviewers can test the game under normal home conditions.

From Rockstar’s perspective, the strategy would make sense as a security measure. GTA 6 is not just another major launch. It is one of the most anticipated entertainment products in modern gaming, and every piece of information around the title has the potential to dominate social media, gaming forums, financial discussions, and mainstream news cycles. With the game currently scheduled for November 19, 2026, the marketing window is entering a critical phase, but Rockstar has not officially confirmed preorder timing or review access plans.

For now, fans should treat the May 18 preorder claim as unconfirmed. The Best Buy affiliate email may have been real, but current insider commentary suggests that nothing major is expected on Monday. Until Rockstar or Take Two makes an official announcement, the safest expectation is that the next meaningful GTA 6 update may arrive closer to July or August.

Are you expecting Rockstar to open GTA 6 preorders soon, or do you think the company will keep everything locked down until its next major marketing beat?